Lin Dunn
{{short description|American basketball executive and former coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Lin Dunn
| image = Lin Dunn.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| position = Senior Advisor
| league = WNBA
| team = Indiana Fever
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|05|10}}
| birth_place = Dresden, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school =
| college = Tennessee–Martin
| coach_start = 1970
| coach_end = 2022
| cyears1 = 1970–1976
| cteam1 = Austin Peay State
| cyears2 = 1977–1978
| cteam2 = Ole Miss
| cyears3 = 1978–1987
| cteam3 = Miami (FL)
| cyears4 = 1987–1996
| cteam4 = Purdue
| cyears5 = 1997–1998
| cteam5 = Portland Power
| cteam6 = Seattle Storm
| cteam7 = Indiana Fever (assistant)
| cteam8 = Indiana Fever
| cyears9 = 2016–2022
| cteam9 = Kentucky (assistant/spec asst)
| cteam10 = Indiana Fever (general manager)
| cyears11 = 2025–present
| cteam11 = Indiana Fever (senior advisor)
| highlights =
- WNBA Champion (2012)
- WNBA Finalist (2009)
- 2x WNBA All–Star Game Head Coach (2009, 2013)
| medaltemplates ={{MedalSport | Women's Basketball}}
{{MedalSport|Head coach for {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|William Jones Cup}} {{MedalBronze|1995 Taipei | Team Competition}}
{{MedalSport|Assistant coach for {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalBronze|1992 Barcelona | Team Competition}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA World Championship for Women}} {{MedalGold|1990 Kuala Lumpur | Team Competition}}
{{MedalCompetition|Goodwill Games}} {{MedalGold|1990 Seattle | Team Competition}}
| WBHOF = lin-dunn
}}
Lin Dunn (born May 10, 1947) is an American women's basketball executive and former coach, who is currently a senior advisor with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. She was recently the general manager of the Fever. {{Cite web |date=2022-02-24 |title=Dunn says role as Fever GM her 'final final tour' |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/33363336/new-indiana-fever-general-manager-lin-dunn-says-love-organization-drew-back-improvement-way |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} She is most known for being the first coach and general manager for the Seattle Storm. She guided Indiana Fever to their first ever WNBA title. She has more than 500 wins to her name.
A native of Dresden, Tennessee, Dunn graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1969. She coached for decades in the college ranks, amassing a 447-257 record in 25 seasons as a college head coach. In her tenure at Austin Peay State University (1970–1976), the University of Mississippi (1977–1978), the University of Miami (1978–1987) and Purdue University (1987–1996), she made the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship seven times, and the Final Four once, in 1994 with Purdue. She is in the Athletics Hall of Fame at both Austin Peay and Miami. Dunn also was president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in 1984-85.
Dunn was abruptly fired at Purdue after the 1995-96 season, but resurfaced in the pros with the American Basketball League's Portland Power in 1996. She was ABL's coach of the year in 1998, right before that league folded. Dunn then became the first coach and GM of the expansion Seattle Storm in the ABL's rival, the WNBA. Her folksy southern personality was a hit in urbane Seattle, with fans often wearing Dunn masks and quoting her rustic aphorisms. The team started with a dismal 6-26 season.
Dunn left the Storm just as it was starting to have success. New superstars Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird led the team to the 2002 playoffs, where they were swept by the Los Angeles Sparks. Dunn then resigned, leaving the path open for Anne Donovan to build a championship team just two seasons later.
Dunn is a former head coach of the Indiana Fever.[http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/lin_dunn/index.html Lin Dunn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009150712/http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/lin_dunn/index.html |date=2010-10-09 }}. WNBA.com Dunn won the WNBA championship with the Fever on October 21, 2012.
On May 6, 2014, Dunn announced her retirement from coaching at the end of the year.
On June 14, 2014, Dunn was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/061214aab.html|title=Dunn Inducted to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame|website=www.purduesports.com|access-date=2016-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815174131/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/061214aab.html|archive-date=2016-08-15|url-status=dead}}
On May 24, 2016, she was introduced as an assistant coach for Matthew Mitchell at Kentucky.{{cite web|title=Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Lin Dunn Joins Mitchell's Staff|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/women-s-basketball-hall-of-famer-lin-dunn-joins-mitchell-s-staff-05-24-2016|website=UK Athletics|publisher=University of Kentucky|access-date=24 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528164052/http://www.ukathletics.com/news/women-s-basketball-hall-of-famer-lin-dunn-joins-mitchell-s-staff-05-24-2016|archive-date=28 May 2016}} On May 26, 2017, UK Athletics announced that Coach Dunn had signed a one-year contract extension.{{cite web|title=Lin Dunn Signs Contract Extension|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/lin-dunn-signs-contract-extension-05-25-2017|website=UK Athletics|publisher=University of Kentucky|access-date=26 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731061320/http://www.ukathletics.com/news/lin-dunn-signs-contract-extension-05-25-2017|archive-date=31 July 2017|url-status=dead}}
In 2018, her role at Kentucky changed to special assistant to the head coach.{{cite web |title=Lin Dunn |url=https://ukathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1947&path=wbball |publisher=University of Kentucky |access-date=26 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326042138/https://ukathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1947&path=wbball |archive-date=26 March 2019}}
On February 14, 2022, Dunn left her role at Kentucky to become Interim General Manager of the Indiana Fever. In explaining her decision, she stated, "I wouldn't come back to another franchise. This would be the only place that I would consider coming out of retirement for."{{Cite web |title=Kentucky Women's Basketball |url=https://twitter.com/kentuckywbb/status/1493305065033007107 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221229222105/https://twitter.com/KentuckyWBB/status/1493305065033007107 |archive-date=2022-12-29 |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Twitter |language=en}}
Dunn was named the permanent General Manager of the Indiana Fever on January 20, 2023.
On October 4, 2024, Dunn moved to a senior advisor position. {{cite web|title=Indiana Fever Name Amber Cox Chief Operating Officer and General Manager|url=https://fever.wnba.com/news/indiana-fever-name-amber-cox-chief-operating-officer-and-general-manger|website=fever.wnba.com|date=October 4, 2024}}
USA Basketball
In 1990, Dunn was the assistant coach for the USA National team at the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team, behind the 22 point per game scoring of Teresa Edwards, won all eight contests, with only the win over Cuba decided by single digits. The USA team faced Yugoslavia in the gold medal game, and won 88–78.
In 1995, Dunn served as the head coach to the R. William Jones Cup Team. The competition was held in Taipei, Taiwan. The USA team won its first six games, but four of the six were won by single-digit margins. Their seventh game was against Russia, and they fell 100–84. The final game was against South Korea, and a victory would assure the gold medal, but the South Korean team won 80–76 to win the gold medal. The USA team won the bronze medal.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Austin Peay Lady Governors
| conference = Ohio Valley Conference
| startyear = 1970
| endyear = 1976
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Austin Peay
| overall = {{Winning percentage|67|55|record=y}}
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Ole Miss Rebels
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| startyear = 1977
| endyear = 1978
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1977–78
| name = Ole Miss
| overall = 25–15
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
| postseason = AIAW State Tournament Champion
AIAW Region III Runner-up
AIAW National Tournament
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Ole Miss
| overall = {{Winning percentage|25|15|record=y}}
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Miami Hurricanes
| conference = FAIAW
| startyear = 1978
| endyear = 1982
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1978–79
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 10–13
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1979–80
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 18–16
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1980–81
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 24–15
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1981–82
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 19–10
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Miami Hurricanes
| conference = NCAA Division I independent
| startyear = 1982
| endyear = 1987
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1982–83
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 14–13
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1983–84
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 19–12
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1984–85
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 21–7
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1985–86
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 9–18
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1986–87
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = 15–15
| conference = N/A
| confstanding =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Miami (FL)
| overall = {{Winning percentage|149|119|record=y}}
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Purdue Boilermakers
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| startyear = 1987
| endyear = 1996
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1987–88
| name = Purdue
| overall = 21–10
| conference = 13–5
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NWIT Second Place
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1988–89
| name = Purdue
| overall = 24–6
| conference = 14–4
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Second Round (Bye)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1989–90
| name = Purdue
| overall = 23–7
| conference = 14–4
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1990–91
| name = Purdue
| overall = 26–3
| conference = 17–1
| confstanding = 1st
| championship = conference
| postseason = NCAA Second Round (Bye)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1991–92
| name = Purdue
| overall = 23–7
| conference = 14–4
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = NCAA Sweet Sixteen
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1992–93
| name = Purdue
| overall = 16–11
| conference = 8–10
| confstanding = 6th
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1993–94
| name = Purdue
| overall = 29–5
| conference = 16–2
| confstanding = T-1st
| championship = conference
| postseason = NCAA Final Four
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1994–95
| name = Purdue
| overall = 24–8
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = T-1st
| championship = conference
| postseason = NCAA Elite Eight
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 1995–96
| name = Purdue
| overall = 20–11
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Purdue
| overall = {{Winning percentage|206|68|record=y}}
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = {{Winning percentage|447|257|record=y}}
}}
=Professional=
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" |POR
| align="left" |1996–97
|18||9||9||{{winning percentage|9|9}}|| align="center" |4th in West|| || || ||
|
|-
| align="left" |POR
| align="left" |1997–98
|44||27||17||{{winning percentage|27|17}}|| align="center" |1st in West||2 ||0 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|0|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Western Conference Semi-Finals
|-
| align="left" |POR
| align="left" |1998
|13||9||4||{{winning percentage|9|4}}|| align="center" |Season cancelled|| || || ||
|
|-
| align="left" |SEA
| align="left" |2000
|32||6||26||{{winning percentage|6|26}}|| align="center" |8th in West|| || || ||
|
|-
| align="left" |SEA
| align="left" |2001
|32||10||22||{{winning percentage|10|22}}|| align="center" |8th in West|| || || ||
|
|-
| align="left" |SEA
| align="left" |2002
|32||17||15||{{winning percentage|17|15}}|| align="center" |4th in West||2 ||0 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|0|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Western Conference Semi-Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2008
|34||17||17||{{winning percentage|17|17}}|| align="center" |4th in East||3 ||1 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|1|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2009
| 34|| 22|| 12||{{winning percentage|22|12}}|| align="center" |1st in East||10 ||6 ||4 ||{{winning percentage|6|4}}
| align="center" |Lost WNBA Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2010
| 34 || 21|| 13||{{winning percentage|21|13}}|| align="center" |3rd in East||3 ||1 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|1|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2011
| 34 || 21|| 13||{{winning percentage|21|13}}|| align="center" |1st in East||6 ||3 ||3 ||{{winning percentage|3|3}}
| align="center" |Lost Eastern Conference Finals
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2012
| 34 || 22|| 12||{{winning percentage|22|12}}|| align="center" |2nd in East||10 ||7 ||3 ||{{winning percentage|7|3}}
| align="center" |Won WNBA Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2013
| 34 || 16|| 18||{{winning percentage|16|18}}|| align="center" |4th in East||4 ||2 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|2|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Eastern Conference Finals
|-
| align="left" |IND
| align="left" |2014
| 34 || 16|| 18||{{winning percentage|16|18}}|| align="center" |2nd in East||5 ||3 ||2 ||{{winning percentage|3|2}}
| align="center" |Lost Eastern Conference Finals
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||409||213||196||{{winning percentage|213|196}}|| ||45||23||22||{{winning percentage|23|22}}
{{s-end}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
}}
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{{Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Miami Hurricanes women's basketball coach navbox}}
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{{Big Ten Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Tennessee|Basketball}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Lin}}
Category:People from Dresden, Tennessee
Category:University of Tennessee at Martin alumni
Category:American Basketball League (1996–1998) coaches
Category:American women's basketball coaches
Category:Basketball coaches from Tennessee
Category:Indiana Fever coaches
Category:Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball coaches
Category:Miami Hurricanes women's basketball coaches
Category:Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball coaches
Category:Ole Miss Rebels women's volleyball coaches
Category:Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball coaches
Category:Seattle Storm coaches
Category:Women's National Basketball Association championship–winning head coaches
Category:Women's National Basketball Association general managers